What Is a Blog

A blog is a web space where people can share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas to readers. It is essentially an online journal or "webblog" Blogs are more than just a space for writing your thoughts, they have become interactive and now include pictures, sounds, videos, comments, discussions, and widgets.


How Blogs Support Learning

  • Supports critical thinking as it requires students to think and reflect before writing
  • Motivates and engages students
  • Provides students with an authentic audience and therefore encourages students to write responsibly
  • Provides a forum for feedback, collaboration, and discussion
  • Fosters a community of learners
  • Allows students an opportunity to discover their writing voice
  • Blogging encourages global conversations about learning–conversations not previously possible in our classrooms.
  • Allows students to network with experts

Blogs and Lifelong Learning



Tips for Educators

  • Explore how other educators are implementing blogs before starting your own
  • Give students formal hands on training session on how to interact with your blog
  • Subscribe to students blogs
  • Comment on others blogs
  • Subscribe to other blogs related to topic
  • Read Will Richardson's Rationale For Blogging
  • Suggested student Blogging Guidelines by Kim Cofino

Getting Started

Decide on what blogging service you want to use for your weblogs. Some suggestions are listed below.
Blogger: easy to navigate and use, requires google account
Wordpress:
Kidblog Excellent for younger students

Sample Blogs

Free Technology for Teachers
Free Resources from the Net for Every Learner
Arts Smart Grant __Giving Tree__ Reflections Blog